MEETING PREPARES FOR ECOSOC 2005 HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT
16-17 March 2005 | UNHQ, New York
A recent meeting held in preparation for the 2005 ECOSOC
High-level segment focused on “achieving the internationally
agreed development goals, including those contained in the
Millennium Declaration, as well as implementing the outcomes of
the major UN Conferences and Summits.”
IISDRS coverage.

ILO
GOVERNING BODY UNDERSCORES DECENT WORK IN FAIR GLOBALIZATION,
CONDEMNS FORCED LABOR, EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER VIOLATION OF CIVIL
AND UNION RIGHTS3-24 March 2005 | Geneva,
SwitzerlandThe 292nd session of the International Labour
Organization concluded with calls for an inclusive and equitable
globalization ensuring decent work. In discussions on follow-up
by the ILO to the February 2004 report of the World Commission
on the Social Dimension of Globalization, the Governing Body
noted that its Working Party on this topic had reached a clear
and strong consensus on the promotion of decent work as a global
goal as the ILO’s distinctive contribution to a fair
globalization. The session also condemned Myanmar’s actions with
regard to forced labor and expressed concern over the incursion
of civil and trade union rights in Nepal, Guatemala, Venezuela
and Zimbabwe.

G8
MINISTERS TARGET CLIMATE CHANGE, FORESTRY
17-18 March 2005 | Derbyshire, UK
The Environment and Development Ministers of the G8 countries
were recently brought together for the first time. Together with
the European Commissioners responsible for environment and
development, the EU Presidency, and senior officials from the
United Nations, World Bank and IUCN, the G8 Ministers addressed
illegal logging and the impact of climate change on African
development.

The first ever Energy and
Environment Ministerial Roundtable was held recently in London.
Jointly hosted by the UK Department of Environment, Food and
Rural Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry, the
Roundtable brought together Ministers from 20 countries to
discuss the challenge of creating lower carbon energy systems to
combat climate change over the next 50 years.

FAO
FISHERIES COMMITTEE MEETS; MINISTERS ADOPT DECLARATIONS
7-11 March 2005 | Rome, Italy
The FAO Fisheries Committee recently discussed a variety of
issues, including progress in implementing the code of conduct
for responsible fisheries and related international plans of
action, deep sea fisheries, marine protected areas, fisheries
subsidies, and a strategic framework for human capacity
development in fisheries. Following the Committee meeting,
ministers and high-level officials met to discuss
tsunami-relief, as well as how to deepen cooperation in
combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

HIGH
SEAS TASK FORCE HOLDS FIRST SUBSTANTIVE SESSION
9 March 2005 | Paris, France
The first substantive meeting of the High Seas Task Force has
taken place, with members discussing how to make progress in six
priority areas: monitoring, control, and surveillance;
developing a global register of high seas fishing vessels;
preparing guidelines on the performance of flag States regarding
high seas fishing vessels; strengthening in-port measures and
control over nationals; analyzing trade-related measures; and
RFMO-based initiatives and governance issues.

TRIPS
COUNCIL DISCUSSES BENEFIT-SHARING8-9 March
2005 | Geneva, SwitzerlandThe World Trade
Organization’s Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS) has resumed its discussions on the
relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on
Biological Diversity.

CARTAGENA
PROTOCOL COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE HOLDS FIRST MEETING
14-16 March 2005 | Montreal, Canada
The 15-member Compliance Committee established under the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety has held its first meeting,
approving its rules of procedure and a work plan, and agreeing
that its second meeting would take place in early 2006.

BIOTECHNOLOGY DISCUSSIONS HELD
7-13 March 2005 | Chennai, India
Two interdisciplinary dialogues on biotechnology have taken
place in Chennai. The first, held from 7-10 March, focused on
biotechnology and organic farming. The second, held from 11-13
March, examined nanobiotechnology and its implications on food,
health and nutrition security.

Linkages Update (LU) is our means of keeping you informed of what’s
happening in the international environmental and sustainable
development world. LU highlights what's new
on IISD Reporting Services' Linkageswebsite. This "what's new" page is updated on a fortnightly basis,
while the website continually posts new information provided by our
contributing
writers.

WORLD WATER COUNCIL BOARD OF GOVERNORS ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT
Loïc Fauchon (France) was elected the President of the World Water
Council by the Council’s Board of Governors on 19 March. Fauchon,
who was previously Vice-president of the World Water Council,
succeeds William Cosgrove (Canada), who left the Council in January
for a position with the government of Quebec.

DESA SEEKS CHIEF OF BRANCH: The Office for
ECOSOC Support and Coordination is looking to hire a Chief to
supervise and oversee the work of the ECOSOC and Interorganizational
Cooperation Branch. The deadline for applications to this New
York-based, D-1 position is 9 May 2005.

FAO SEEKS SENIOR
FISHERY INDUSTRY OFFICER: FAO
is looking for a senior fishery industry officer for fishing
operations to provide
specialist technical advice and assistance on a global basis in the
fields of fishing operations and management and to respond to
current needs for implementation of the Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fisheries. This is a P-5 position based in Rome, Italy.
Applications are due by 9 May 2005.

FAO ANNOUNCES
FISHERY PLANNING VACANCY: FAO
has a vacancy for a fishery planning officer to work on issues
relating to fisheries
governance, management and development. This is a P-4 position based
in Rome, Italy. Applications are due by 21 April 2005.

IMO SEEKS MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION OFFICER: The International
Maritime Organization is looking for a Marine Environment Protection
Officer for its Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre
for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC). This is a P-4 position based in
Malta. The deadline for applications is 15 April 2005.

CDM BOARD SEEKS EXPERTS: The Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board is seeking experts for
its Methodologies Panel and its Afforestation and Reforestation
Working Group. The deadline for applications is 11 April 2005.

WWF INTERNATIONAL SEEKS DIRECTOR GENERAL:
WWF, the global conservation organization, is seeking a Director
General to lead the WWF International network towards achieving its
conservation mission and goals. Applications for this top
position, which is based at WWF
International, in Gland, Switzerland, are due on 31 March 2005.

EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE REVOKES NEEM PATENT
In what is considered to be an historic judgment against biopiracy,
the European Patent Office has upheld a decision to revoke in its
entirety a patent on a fungicidal product derived from seeds of the
Neem, a tree indigenous to the Indian subcontinent.

PROTECTED AREAS AT RISK IN ALASKA, AFRICA—REPORTS
Protected areas are at risk from drilling in Alaska, while in Africa
they are under threat due to lack of funding. Meanwhile, some US$300
million is required annually to manage and protect Africa’s 1,200
protected areas, many of which are currently under threat because of
inadequate resources and government policing.

Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts

WORLD
WATER DAY CELEBRATED
World Water Day 2005 was celebrated on 22 March under the theme
“Water for Life.” The day also marked the start of the UN Water for
Life Decade, which aims to highlight the central role water plays in
sustaining human life, particularly its critical role in maintaining
human well-being, environmental health, biodiversity, energy
generation, industrial development, and food production.

NEW
WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT FOR NILE BASIN COUNTRIES
The ten countries within the Nile River basin are set to benefit
from better access to information on the availability, use and
development potential of the Nile resources they share under a new
project to improve water management in the region.

Climate and atmosphere

RELIGIOUS
GROUPS RALLY ROUND CLIMATE AGENDA
Religious groups in the US have expressed their support for action
to combat global warming. In other news from the United States, six
major oil and gas companies have agreed to disclose their financial
exposure from climate change and to take action to limit such risks,
following pressure from shareholders. Meanwhile, the US Senate has
voted to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge area—a decision widely viewed as a serious setback for
environmentalists.

USER-FRIENDLY MATRIX OF THE CHAIR’S IPM SUMMARY(DSD, 2005) This matrix was designed to
assist those attending the 13th session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development in April 2005. The 16-page table identifies
“Policy Options” and “Practical Measures (what/how)” that are
included in the Chair’s Summary from the Intergovernmental
Preparatory Meeting, along with “Examples” and “Key implementation
actors (+partners)” related to each policy option.

2005 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY INDEX (ESI): BENCHMARKING NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP(Yale Centre for Environmental Law and
Policy, January 2005) The 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index
was formally released in Davos, Switzerland, at the annual meeting
of the World Economic Forum. It establishes indicators that allow
for a comparison across the following five components of
sustainability: Environmental Systems; Environmental Stresses; Human
Vulnerability to Environmental Stresses; Societal Capacity to
Respond to Environmental Challenges; and Global Stewardship.

TRANSFORMING THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP) INTO A
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION (UNEO)
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has created a website on
transforming UNEP into a UN Environment Organization (UNEO), a
French position announced by President Chirac to the UN General
Assembly in September 2003. The site includes information on: the
concept of an UNEO, an informal intergovernmental working groups
launched in 2004, and studies on global environmental governance.
The site states that the aim of France’s foreign policy is to get
the issue on the United Nations’ agenda.

Climate and atmosphere

THE BUSINESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE—CORPORATE RESPONSES TO KYOTO
Greenleaf, March 2005) This book analyzes corporate responses to the
climate change issue. The book describes and examines various recent
business approaches in order to identify effective strategies and
“promote the dissemination of proactive corporate practices on
climate change worldwide.” It considers the factors that cause
companies to pursue strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and support the Kyoto Protocol process. The book includes
contributions from numerous climate and business experts, and was
edited by Kathryn Begg, Frans van der Woerd, and David Levy.

QUO
VADIS, KYOTO? PITFALLS AND OPPORTUNITIES
(Oxford, March 2005) This short opinion piece by Benito Müller was
presented during a civil society event held alongside the G8
environment and development ministers meeting in March 2005. The
piece considers the “opportunities and pitfalls of the upcoming
post-2012 multilateral climate change negotiations.”
The report warns of the dangers of moving
away from a mandatory emissions cap regime of the type set out under
the Kyoto Protocol. Rather than abandoning this approach after 2012,
as officials from the UK and elsewhere have apparently mooted in
recent months, Müller recommends that the UK and other EU
member States establish a post-Kyoto system that allows sub-national
entities, such as US states and companies, to join such a treaty.
Joint technology initiatives with the current US administration
should be entered into as a complement to, but not as a replacement
for, a Kyoto-style treaty, he argues. With regards to engaging
developing countries, Müller suggests that the developed world
should start by fulfilling their pledges to support various funds
agreed under the UNFCCC.

Biodiversity and wildlife

PROTECTING
AND PROMOTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE: SYSTEMS, NATIONAL EXPERIENCES
AND INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS
(UNCTAD, 2004) Edited by S. Twarog and P. Kapoor, this book consists
of a collection of papers emanating from an expert meeting held in
October 2000. Papers address: the role of traditional knowledge in
healthcare and agriculture; national actions, regional initiatives
and international dimensions of traditional knowledge protection;
and harnessing traditional knowledge for development. The book takes
a broad view of the subject, addressing issues ranging from the
importance of traditional knowledge for communities, countries and
the global economy to means of preserving and protecting it as well
as harnessing its potential for development and ensuring equitable
distribution of economic benefits derived from traditional
knowledge.

AFRICAN
POLICY DIALOGUES ON BIOTECHNOLOGY – REPORTS AND BACKGROUND PAPERS
(IFPRI, 2005) The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
has made available the report of the second session of the African
Policy Dialogues on Biotechnology, held in September 2004 in Harare,
Zimbabwe, the Statement of commitments adopted in September 2004, as
well as a series of background papers. These papers cover a range of
issues, including “governing biotechnology in Africa: toward
consensus on key issues in biosafety” and “agricultural
biotechnology, politics, ethics and policy.”

Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts

THE STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE 2004
(FAO, 2004) According to this publication, seven of the top 10
marine fish species are fully exploited or overexploited, and
serious biological and economic drawbacks are likely if fishing
capacity for these stocks is further increased. The report indicated
that 52% of the world’s marine stocks are fully exploited, which
means they are being fished at their maximum biological
productivity. Increased fishing of these stocks would not produce
any additional sustainable harvests and would reduce reproduction to
dangerously low levels. Another 16% are considered over-exploited,
and 7% are depleted. Regions with fish stocks in greatest need of
recovery include the Northeast Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and
the Black Sea, followed by the Northwest Atlantic, the Southeast
Atlantic, the Southeast Pacific and the Southern Ocean.

In addition to providing a world review of fisheries and
aquaculture, the report also addresses the following issues:
capture-based aquaculture; fishing sector labor standards; fisheries
management and CITES; trade implications of fish species and fish
product identification; depleted stocks recovery; and governance and
management of deep-water fisheries. The report further highlights
special studies on: the seaweed industry; aquaculture production
forecasts to 2030; impacts of trawling on benthic systems;
measurement of fishing capacity; re-estimating discards; fisheries
subsidies; and African freshwater small-scale fisheries.

UNEP GLOBAL WATER QUALITY DATA AND
STATISTICS DATABASE
UNEP through its GEMS/Water Programme, has launched a new online
searchable database of global water quality data and statistics. The
data found on the site aims to strengthen the scientific basis for
global and regional water assessments, indicators and early warning.

“FINANCING WATER FOR ALL” WEBSITE
The World Water Council and the Global Water Partnership has
launched a joint website to provide information on the follow-up
activities that have been initiated since the publication of
“Financing Water for All,” the report of the World Panel on
Financing Water Infrastructure. The website features case studies of
innovative ways to finance investments for water infrastructure,
thus allowing users to take note of actions and experiences in this
area since the original report was released.

Forests, deserts, land

STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2005
(FAO, 2005) This report was presented by the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization at the March 2005 session of the FAO Committee on
Forestry to about 100 heads of national forestry agencies. The 2005
version of this biennial publication has as its theme, “realizing
the economic benefits from forests.” The report includes
contributions on: enhancing the economic benefits from forests;
economic benefits from agroforestry; the economics of wood energy;
impacts of tariffs and non-tariff measures on forest products trade;
and violent conflicts in forested areas.

WEBSITE ON FOREST INVASIVE SPECIES FOR AFRICA
(FAO, March 2005) This website, which was launched on 24 March 2005,
will enable African countries to share information on outbreaks of
invasive pest species and woody species, and on ways to tackle them.
The site was created by African specialists at the initiative of the
Forest Invasive Species Network for Africa (FISNA), and is hosted by
FAO.

ITTC-38:
19 June 2005 - 22 June 2005. Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The
38th Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) and
Associated Sessions of the Committees will convene in Brazzaville,
Republic of Congo in June 2005. Participants will take part in site
visits and Council sessions on 19 June; 20 and 21 June will comprise
all-day Council sessions; and the 22nd will host a special event on
the Congo Basin Partnership. For more information contact: Manoel
Sobral Filho, Executive Director, ITTO; tel: +81-45-223-1110; fax:
+81-45-223-1111; e-mail:
itto@itto.or.jp; Internet:
http://www.itto.or.jp/live/PageDisplayHandler?pageId=189

The following are upcoming meetings recently added to Linkages
website:

Sustainable development

BRIEFING ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A
CONTRADICTION?:
5 April 2005. New York, US. This briefing for the NGO Committee on
Sustainable Development, which is open to all, is being organized by
the Division for Social Policy and Development, DESA, and the NGO
Committee on Sustainable Development. It will take place at UN
headquarters in Conference Room 7 from 1:15-2:45 pm. For more
information contact: Roma Stibravy, Chair of the NGO Committee on
Sustainable Development; tel: +1-212-703-5069

SECOND INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND
PRODUCTION UNDER THE MARRAKECH PROCESS:
Costa Rica. The dates and city for this second international meeting
under the Marrakech Process on the 10-Year Framework of Programmes
on Sustainable Consumption and Production are yet to be confirmed.
For more information contact: Alejandro Carpio, UN DESA; tel:
+49-531-2343; Internet:
http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/consumption/Marrakech/conprod10Y2ndafr.htm

58TH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE:
7 September 2005 - 9 September 2005. New York, US. Scheduled for 7-9
September 2005, in New York, this conference will focus on the
review of the Millennium Declaration, the MDGs and United Nations
reform. For more information contact: DPI NGO Section; tel:
+1-212-963-6842; fax: +1-212-963-6914; e-mail:
dpingo@un.org; Internet:
http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/

GLOBAL DAY FOR MOBILIZATION:
10 September 2005. Worldwide. Organized by the Global Call to Action
against Poverty, the Global Day for Mobilization seeks to pressure
world leaders to tackle the causes of poverty, and meet the MDGs.
For more information contact: GCAP; e-mail:
info@whiteband.org; Internet:
http://www.whiteband.org/

Biodiversity and wildlife

FAO E-MAIL CONFERENCE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY AND
CHARACTERIZATION/CONSERVATION OF GENETIC RESOURCES:
30 May 2005 - 26 June 2005. E-mail conference. The FAO Biotechnology
Forum is devoting its next e-mail conference to the role that
biotechnology can play in the characterization and conservation of
crop, animal, forestry and fishery genetic resources in developing
countries. This will be the 13th conference hosted by the Forum
since it was launched in 2000. The conference is open to all, is
free and will be moderated. All e-mail messages posted during the
conference will also be placed on the Forum website. For more
information contact: e-mail:
biotech-mod1@fao.org; Internet:
http://www.fao.org/biotech/conf13.htm

Climate and atmosphere

24TH SESSION OF THE IPCC AND WGIII MEETING:
22 September 2005 - 28 September 2005. Montreal, Canada. The 8th
session of IPCC WG III will meet from 22-24 September, and will be
followed by the meeting of the 24th Session of the IPCC, which will
take place from 26-28 September. For more information contact: IPCC
Secretariat C/O World Meteorological Organization; tel:
+41-22-730-8208; fax: +41-22-730-8025; e-mail:
IPCC-Sec@wmo.int; Internet:
http://www.ipcc.ch/calendar.htm

Human development

61ST SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS:
14 March 2005 - 22 April 2005. Geneva, Switzerland. The 61st session
of the UN Commission on Human Rights will take place from 14 March
to 22 April 2005 in Geneva. For more information contact: Laura
Dolci-Kanaan, OHCHR; tel: +41-22-917-9656; fax: +41-22-917-9004;
e-mail:
ldolci-kanaan@ohchr.org; Internet:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/

PAN ARAB CONFERENCE ON WSIS- PHASE II - TOWARDS WSIS II - AN ARAB
REGIONAL DIALOGUE:
8 May 2005 - 10 May 2005. Cairo, Egypt. This conference will be held
under the auspices of the League of Arab States, in coordination
with the International Telecommunication Union and the WSIS
Executive Secretariat. Organized and hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology, the conference is
expected to produce an updated version of the Pan Arab Regional Plan
of Action. For more information contact: Ministry of Communications
and Information Technology of Egypt; e-mail:
mayconf@mcit.gov.eg; Internet:
http://www.wsis-egypt.gov.eg/

REGIONAL WSIS PREPARATORY MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE FOR LATIN AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN: ON THE WAY TO TUNIS:
8 June 2005 - 10 June 2005. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This regional
preparatory conference for the Tunis Phase of the World Summit on
the Information Society will take place from 8-10 June 2005 in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil. For more information contact: Organizing
Committee; e-mail:
secretariado@riocmsi.net; Internet:
http://www.riocmsi.net/home_en.htm

GLOBAL CONFERENCE - FROM REACTION TO PREVENTION: CIVIL SOCIETY
FORGING PARTNERSHIPS TO PREVENT VIOLENT CONFLICT AND BUILD PEACE:
19 July 2005 - 21 July 2005. New York, US. Convening from 19-21 July
2005, in New York, this meeting seeks to advance a global and
regional policy paradigm shift from reaction to prevention of
conflict. For more information contact: International Secretariat,
European Centre for Conflict Prevention; tel: +31-30-242-7777; fax:
+31-30-236-9268; e-mail:
info@conflict-prevention.net; Internet:
http://www.gppac.net/

23RD MINISTERIAL SESSION OF ESCWA:
9 May 2005 - 12 May 2005. Damascus, Syria. The 23rd session of the
UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia will meet from
9-12 May 2005 in Damascus. For more information contact: ESCWA; tel:
+961-1-981-301; fax: +961-1-981-510; e-mail:
webmaster-escwa@un.org; Internet:
http://www.escwa.org.lb/index.html

61ST SESSION OF ESCAP:
12 May 2005 - 18 May 2005. Bangkok, Thailand. The 61st session of
the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will
take place from 12-18 May 2005 at ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok. For
more information contact: ESCAP; tel: +66-2-288-1234; fax:
+66-2-288-1000; e-mail:
unescap@unescap.org; Internet:
http://www.unescap.org/61/index.asp

ANNUAL SESSION OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARDS OF UNDP AND UNFPA:
13 June 2005 - 24 June 2005. New YorkThe annual session of the UNDP/UNFPA
Executive Boards will meet from 13-24 June in New York and the
second regular session of the Executive Boards will take place from
6-9 September 2005. For more information contact: Rekha Thap,
Director, Executive Board Secretariat and Secretary, UNDP/UNFPA
Executive Boar; tel: +1-212-906-5576; fax: +1-212-906-5634;
Internet:
http://www.unfpa.org/exbrd/2005/firstsession/dp-2005-crp-1.pdf

G8 GLENEAGLES 2005 SUMMIT:
6 July 2005 - 8 July 2005. Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland. The
2005 G8 Summit will convene from 6-8 July at the Gleneagles Hotel in
Perthshire, Scotland. Under the UK Presidency, the G8's
deliberations will focus on Africa and climate change among other
topics. For more information contact: British Prime Minister's
Office; fax: +44-20-7925-0918; e-mail:
http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page821.asp; Internet:
http://www.g8.gov.uk/

Trade, finance, investment

G8 FINANCE MINISTERS:
10 June 2005 - 11 June 2005. London, UK. The pre-summit meeting of
the G8 Finance Ministers will take place from 10-11 June 2005 in
London. For more information contact: Internet:
http://www.g8.gov.uk

Water, wetlands, oceans, coasts

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON WATER: VALUES AND RIGHTS:
2 May 2005 - 4 May 2005. Ramallah, Palestinian Authority. This
conference will provide an international forum to consider key
issues related to water rights, the adequate distribution of water
(including the application of water science and technology), and
sustainable provision of sanitation services. Topics on the agenda
include: water resource management; wastewater treatment;
international water law and rights; developmental and strategic
planning; socioeconomic impacts; and water and wastewater
technology. For more information contact: Palestine Academy for
Science and Technology and Palestinian Water Authority; e-mail:
conference@palestineacademy.org; Internet:
http://www.palestineacademy.org/wconf/

Linkages is provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development,
publishers of the Earth Negotiations
Bulletin. It is designed to be an electronic clearing-house for information on past
and upcoming international meetingsrelated to environment and
sustainable development policy.